Machine for automatically manufacturing welded wire chains.



o. L. GRAVES. I LLY MANUFACTURING WELDED APPLIOLTION-IILED SEPT. 2, 1909.

WIRE cums.

Patented Mar.21,1911.

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATIGA 987,295;

5 BHEETB-GHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNE I a. L. GRAVES. MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MANUFACTURING WELDED WIRE CHAINS.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION IILBD SEPT. 2, 1909.

A VENTOR WITNESSES:

I O. L. GRAVES. V MACHINE FOB AUTOMATICALLY MANUFACTURING WELDED WIRE CHAINS. 12110411011 FILED SEPT. 12, mos.

Patented Mar.21,1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR 0. L. GRAVES. MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MANUFACTURING-.WELDED WIRE GHAINS.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1909. 987,295.

Patented Mar.21, 1911:.-

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNE$SES: :IENI Mon G.L .GRAVES. MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MANUFAG'IUBING WELDED WIRE CHAINS.

A PPLIOATION FILED 8111 12, 1909.

Patented mar. 21, 191-1.

5 sums-inn a.

UNITED STATES ISH 'xylluhi. i

.foH AnLEs L. GRAVES, F MILFORD, CONNECTICUT, 'ASSIGNOR, sYfMnsNn xss'renmnn'rs,

To al} whom it may concern: Be it known that L'CI-IARLES L; Gniwi-is,

a a u 4 n ;.1-,c1 t1zen of the United States, residing at -.Milfor"d, in .the county of New Haven and 5 State of Connecticut, have invented certain :3 new' anduseful Improvements in h'lachines for Automatically l\.[anufaoturing Welded vV ire Chains; and I do hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and, exact delOscriptibn of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it :Lppertains tomake and use the same.

- My inventionvrelates to certain improvements in machines-for 'nanufacturing welded "wire chains, but more pjo tiQularly has reference to machines of this description for lap welding the chain links jorimparting a'twist to the links and forl connecting a partially formed link withda previously welded and-twisted link.

' The object of my inventionist machine that will automatically; perform these Operations of welding, twisting and connecting the links of the chain ekpedt; t'iously' and positively, "and with this end in View my invention consists in the details of construction and'arrangement of parts hereinafterr" referred to and then particularly pointed out in. the claims which 'concluclc '--:=this-descrip-tion. V

1-11 the accompanyingdrawing Figure 1 n a plan view of my improved machines- "w'FigJQ a side elevation thereof, with the wire feeding devices sectioned awayFig-. 3 a sec- 3 5-tion at the line a, a,'of Fig; 1Fig. 4 a section" at the line b, b, of Fig, 1.Fig. 5 a section atthe line a, 0, of Fig. 1-Fig. 6 a section at w the-line d, (1;, of Fig. 8Fig. '7 a detail enltrged plan view of the main slide, the plunbfslideand parts connected. therewith, the de roc'k bars and,cani connections'for ope1- ting said slides and bars-Eig. 8 asee- Tilt- 111B line 6, e, of Fig.;7-Figs. 9., 10, 11,,a'1id 12, detail broken pflin views showing pfrticu'larly the position of the-sever'al in- "1 strnmentalit-ies immediately" "associated with the wire in erforming' the various ,opera- "'"t'ions inthe ormation of the link, eonnectq:

partially formed'lin'k and connect theiseme' f h with apreviously formed link, and Fig.1'14

fro AUTOMATIC WELDING MACHINE COMPANY, A oom'ons'rrdiv F'" MACHINE FOR- AUTOMATICALLY MANUFACTURING WEliuDED.uWIRIE,GI-IAINSW Specification of Letters Paltent. I Patflfle' Application filed September 2, 1903. Serial No.

t an: -a-

Mim 21f; i om: no; we

{hi .'h. i is a detail brokcn el ei il tioii and clamping lever. w Similar numerals parts in the several 1 1 My improvement is no iii; of any particular annex welding of the eve the links, and therefor processmay be ein'ih trated and will de process since I pre e; A

My improvement o nip feeding the wireandcu t" therefrom, ineans' -f hooks on the ends o bending the latter shape, means for l ing the side wireso ii link toward each. o tlie r iiisligli horizontalplane, it overlap within aq-p "whereby the concafen fected while thepr is still held within. tl means for-"reflecting the link whereby the egg e111 from the electrodesnne advancing the partie 1 we] ding the lapped ends for twisting the;

stantially a "vert-ic being connected w of whiclrwill be theffollowin'gjqdeseri I v Theparts offmy igmpi,

im inediately "associate mentin tlie ina niifact ui of the hain tuated by means of; l which are very ordi tion and require ,nodetall vin, hnd therefore I ,will -and cams merely by a A.lso,.in some inst-a the illustrations all, used to hold dovs i termed the mai suitable ways in said bed, the rear extrem ities of said slide being equipped with rolls 3 (shown in dotted lines) which engage with cam grooves it (shown in dotted lines) in wheels 5, whereby the movements of said slide are effected. The wheels 5 and also the wheels 6, 7, are carried by a shaft 8 journaled in the bed of the machine. Secured to the extreme forward ends of the slide 2 are the preliminary bending tools 9 which operate to form the hooks in the ends of the wire blank preparatory to the formation of a link.

1 0, 11, are rocking bars pivoted near the sides of the slide 3 to upright-s 12, 13, that rise from the bed of the machine, the rear extremities of said bars passing beneath the loosely embraces the shaft Sand serves to shaft 8 and provided with rolls i i, 15, (shown in dotted lines) that engage within cam grooves 16, 17, (shown in dotted lines) in the outer faces of the wheels 6, 7 whereby the rocking movements of'said bars 10, 11., are effected. The forward extremities of these bars 10, 11, carry vertically disposed pins 18, 19, which coiiperate with the tools 9 in forming the preliminary hooks .on the ends of a wire blank;

20 is the plunger slide which is capable of independent lengthwise movements within ways in the main slide 2 and rigid with this slide 20 is an elongated pinion 21. Swiveled to the rear end of the slide 20 in any suitable manner is a plunger rod 22 which is equipped with a roll 23 (shown in dotted lines) that engages with a cam groove 24 (shown in dotted lines at Fig. 7 and in solid lines at Fig. 6) .in the inside face of the wheel 6, wherebythe reciprocations of the slide 20 are effected, and this rod 20 terminates at its rear end in a fork 25 that prevent axial displacement of the rod when the slide 20 is rotated in the manner hereinafter'to be described.

To the forward extremity of the slide 20 is secured the tool 26 which iscut away as shown at 27 at its forward edge which latter" is provided with a slightly inclined but gen erally horizontally disposed groove28 (see Fig; 13) this tool 26 operating to grasp the partially formed link and to the side wires thereof in slightly different horizontal planes so that the hook ends will overlap preparatory to welding.

29 is a rockin lever having near its central portion an e ongated slot 30. which lever extends loosely through the slide 2 and is pivoted thereto by means of a pin 31 that extends from the walls the slot 30, so that it will be readily understood that this lever is capable of rocking out imparting any sli 11g movements to-said lever. The rear extremity of'this lever finally bend of the slide within.

is equipped with a roll; 32 which engages with a cam groove 33' (shown in dotted lines) within the inside face of the wheel 7, whereby vertical rocking movements are imparted to said lever while-the latter is also retracted and advanced by means of the cam groove 33 in order to act in harmony with the slide 20 in withdrawing a completed link from the welding electrodes and then forcing -;Within the latter the partially completed link. 'ihe forward extremity of this lever 29 carries a vertically disposed pin 34 which cooperates with the tool '26 in effecting the final bending of the -link and the uniting of the latter with a previously completed link.

35 is the wire feeding lever which is pivoted to thebracket 26 extending from the bed of the machine and has a reciprocation in a horizontal plane, the rear extremity of said lever being provided with a roll"'37 which tracks within a cam groove 38 in a collar 39 that is carried by the shaft. 8,

whereby the reciprocations of said lever 35 are effected. To the forward extremity of this lever 35 is pivoted a grip lug 40, and the wire 41 is passed between said lug and thewire' will be grasped firmly and fed,

whileat the return movement of the lever the lugwill merely slip along the wire until it arrives at its proper position preparatory to a succeeding feeding operation, this being an old. and well known form of wire feed requiring no particular description 42 is an anvil block secured to the bed of the machine and through which the wireis fed and abuts against a post &3 preparatory to severing a blank from the wire.

The front-edge of the tool 0 adjacent to the inner face of the anvil acts as the cutter "the under side of said lever, and when the A free end of the latter is thrown inwardly to sever the blank, the continued movements of the tools 9 bending the-extremities of the severed blank around the pins 18,19, the

blank, after ithas been severed, being sup ported upon the rock bars 10, 11, and 29, in the rear of the pins 18, 19, and 3t.

44:, 45, are the electrodes, which is stationary and is supported on. the

bed of the machine while the latter ,is capable of" being slightly elevated and lowered so that it may be depressed or elevated toward and, away from the stationary electrode for the purpose presently to be explained. The electrode at?) has a vertical pin i6 fixed therein, the upper end of which latter secured to a lever at? that is pivoted- :to the upright 68 rising from the bed of the the former of l machine and carries at its rear end a roll 48 (shown-in. dotted lines) that engages acan:

(shown 1ndotted lines) in a,

wheel 50 that is carried by a shaft 51 journaled to the bed of the machine -at right angles to the shaft 8, these shafts S and 51 carrying respectively meshing bevel gears 52, 53. Confined between the lever '47 and the electrode is a coil spring 54, as shown against the electrode 45' and slightly raises "two electrodes a pl to Permit the withdrawalof a zwelded-link and the insercellent results since a deadpressure during a more particularly at Fig. 14. v g The cam groove in the wheel 50 operates to depress" and'elevate the free end of the lever=47 the depression of this lever acting tionof the "lever 47' relaxesthe pressure this electrode :so that-the space between the tion of a succeeding" link. This yielding pressure between the electrodes produces exwelding operation does not permitof a proper fusing and distribution of the metal at-thepoint'of welding, and a pressure that greatly increases from a minimumitoa maximum during the rweldlng operation will result in a thorough and-uniform welding.

55 are the electrical conductors extending through and supported by the usualcore and connectedwith'the electrodes.

56 57, are insulated terminals supporte in any suitable manner upon the frame of the machine, the: terminal being stationary while the terminal 57 is movable and is provided at its rear endfwith a head- 58 which-is kept iii-contactby means of a spring. 59 with a cam 60 carried 'by'the shaft 51, s'aid camoperating to force. the terminal'57 in contact with the terminal 56, while the spring acts to retract the terminal 57 The current wires 61,62, are connected respec-- tively with the terminals56 and 57, and the circuit is closed; and opened by the action of this cam GO and thelength'of time during whlch the weldmgoperatmn is continued ndepends of course @upon the length of time shaft-.51, said camggroove-operatingto rc-c clprocate the rack bar and. therebyrevolye during which the terminals 5-6, 57 are in contact, and in order to vary this it 1s merelyv necessary to change the cam; p

- (33 1s. a" rack bar guided within suitable ways on .the bed and engaging thegelongated pinion 21, and the rear end of thisba-r carries a roll 64: (shown in dottedlines) which.

engag'es withina cam groove 65 (shown in dotted lmes) 1n TILIWhGBl (36carr1ed by .the

the plunger slide 20-for the-purpose offtwist pose hereinafter to be-descri'bed are tong levers pivoted to ing the link in t-heinanner and for-the the G8 the ends of'whichlevers extend immedn ately above andbelow the, plane in which the abetweenjhthe electrodes,

- :these, levers are extend abovej thesliaft fili andthe rearportion of these levers are con-x" links are delivered:

nected by a coil spring 7 2; whose function is to keep the rolls 6!? age] bythe action of the c'a crates to close the front against alink duringfiith w to force the electrode 45 downwardly toward the electrode 44 with a yielding pressure due "to the interposed spring-545 while" the eleva volved in order to bring around the. pin 34:PflSiiSl-lfllfil5f g wean fwhich'last nameda'figuree re ousl se previously completed a 11; the plunger slide; retracted slightly by "forward end of the leyl I draw thefpin 34' from the plunger 's lidefl pur- 1 likewise to cause thence y the levers to separate whe' aljlqitdgtd ldolisck whirlp- I v .is a. power pulleyti'onelt byw'the latter as well; as

ah the parts hereinbefore dscfgi bedgalguw The operation-oft :iirnpmvefimfmwias folloivsr-A'fter the bla-nldahasibeelmiasehhred from the"wire, theunalnuslidetconti'tii's itsili forward movement until theeiefi i sehf this severedehlank arihentiamundxtheipins 8o "18, 19,.so-a's to forma ookhohsesh vairsmthlfiig.

action of. the cam groovesirtcamniilzclqv :thfis wheels 6, 7, and theifggrwmml fimfite. the mainslide iscontiniiedewh lie "are blank is bent into-the iibstmnt pleted linkis' shown "held et trodes; the p'lunger slidei20 is by the action offlthelcainig 6 untilthe tool 26- hasngfl formed link and irrigated thereto so as to engage;.th

in lapped condihoumithitr the, link within the .01 this clamping, operatioi grooves in the wheels .the forward endof th 'er slide' until i 'ee eli'd of the nk 1 e Gig; are now elampeda amstg-th" iihc tion of the cam whereupon the caml'l j I "we" de'd ends as they are withdrawn from the electrodes .thereb shapin and finishing theseends, and t e severa operations just described are then re eated."

. 'Havingthus descri ed my invention what I 'claimj'as new'a-nd desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a machine for automatically menu factoring welded wire chains, t-he combination of means;'for'holding a completed link- ;2 Q in.l=position to receive a succeeding link, means for formin hooks on the ends of a ,blank for a succee in link, means for forming said succeeding ink into substantially U-shape with said hook-v ends extending in- ,wa rdly and on opposite sides of the previously completed link, means for passing the hooked ends of a succeeding =partially formed'link through a previousl completed link'and bringing the ends toget er, suitable -weldin devices, and means for delivering the en s of the partially completed link to such-welding devices. Y

2. In a machine for manufacturing welded wire chains, the combination of means for 5 holding a previously completed link in position to receive a succeedin link, means for severing the wire'blank an bending the latter into substantially U-shape, means for formin books, at the ends thereof, and means or finally bendingthelink with the ends together and connecting the same with i a previously completed link, with means for a welding the ends of the partially completed 1 link, and means for twistingthe link.

edwire chain, the combination of automatijcally o era'ted instrumentalities for holding a prevlously completed link in position to receive a succeeding partiall formed link, -with means for bendin' a b ank for a succeeding linkinto' su stantially U-shape, means for forming hooks at the ends thereof which hooks extend on opposite sides of a previously coinpleted link, means for closing 5 the link thus partially formed through the hooks at the ends of a wirebl'ankand sub- .3. In a machine for manufacturing weld-- cameo sequently bending the latter into substan tially U-shape, means for fin'all bending the link thus partially formed wit its ends toether within said previously completed inck, and means for welding together said en s. a a

5. In a machine for automatically manufacturing welded wire chains, the combina- -.tion ofmeans for welding the ends of the links, means for twisting previously welded links into substantially avertical lane and means ,for holding the twisted li s in said plane in position to receive succeeding links, with means for formin hooks on the ends ofthe blanks forsuccee ing links,means for bending said blanks into U-sha e, and means for uniting succeeding links is us partially formed "with previously com leted links by passing the hooked ends 0 sueceeding links through the completed links and in abutting position.

6. In a machine for automatically manuQ facturing welded wire chain's-,the combina tion of means for holding a previously come pleted link 1n position to receive the'ends of a succeeding link, means for initialljjr forming the ends of a suitable blank intd hooks and 'means for subsequently bending the blank into U-shape with the hooks extending on o posite sides of a previously completed link, with means for closing the hooked ends of the partially formed link together throu h 'the'previously completed link whereby t e links are united, suitable welding devices, andmeans for delivering the ends of a previously completed link to said welding devices.

7. In a machine for maklng wire chain,

the combination ofwmeans for holding a' completed link in position to receive the ends of a. partially formed link, means for passing the ends ofthe partially formed link through said completed link, suitable welding devices, and means for delivering the devices. I

8. In a machine for automatically manufacturing welded wire chains, the combination of means for holding a completed link in position to receive a succeeding linkymeans ends of the partially completed link to such for forming hooks ontthevends of-a blank for a succeeding link, means for, forming said succeedin link into substantially U shape withsaid hookkends extending in-. wardly and on opposite sides of the' previously'completed link, means for passing the hooked ends of a succeeding partially formed link thro'u h a reviouslycompleted [plink and in lappe con ition, suitable Weld ing devices, and means for delivering the lapped ends of the partially completed link to such welding devices.

9. In a machine formanufacturing welded wire chains, the combination of, means for holding a previously completed link in a'eag-rea new h Hi 1 end s iiverlapp arid cop aaalllh z tz's 'y'ap fil itsl emest meanslfor w ding, elappe Q1}, 1351, 3; C? mi ht rtta, ii l '10. In a machipeg ed wire chain; th M tnbination ofautomatie, cally operated instrumentalities for holding a previously completed link in position to receive a succeeding partially formed link, with means for bending a blank for a succeeding link into substantially U-shape, means for forming hooks at the'ends thereof which, hooks extend on opposite sides of a previously completed link, means for closing the linkthus partially formed through the previously completed link with the hooked ends overlapping whereby a succeeding link is connected with a previously completed linlk. and means for welding said overlapped 811k s.

11. In a machine for automatically manufacturing welded wire chains, the combination with means for holding a previously 1 completed link in position to receive a succeeding link, of ineans for initially forming 'fhooks'at the ends of a wire blank and subseque'ntly bending the latter into substantially U-shape, means for finally bending the link thus partially formed with its ends overlapping within said previously com-- pleted link, and meansfor welding together said overlapping ends. I v

. 4 12. In a machine for automatically manu- 40 facturing welded wirechains, the combinzu tion of means for welding the ends of the links, means for'twisting previously welded links into substantially a vertical plane and means for holding the twisted links in said plane in position to receive succeeding links,

' with means for forming-hooks on the ends 'of the blanks for succeeding links, means for bending said blanksinto U-shape, and means v for uniting succeedin links thus partially formed with previousl completed links by passing the hooked en s of succeeding links through the completed links and in lapped position.

' 13. In a machine for automatically manufacturing welded wirechains, the combina-' tion ofimeans for holding a previously completed link in position to receive the ends of a succeeding link, means for initially forming. the ends of a Lsu-it'able blank into books and means for snbsequently bending the blank into U-shape with the hooks extending on oppositesides of a previously has. th

completed-link, with means for closing the,

hooked ends of the partially formedlink in overlapped position through the previously 5 t manufacturing weldb i v v V \miugtithsrove lapped end plated linkitptsitithweld Enmthain-miiking" amtiew-ehrm imsaw ends of a straight bla I V .=holding.:awlink prev ioiisly ormeisl' in proper relationqto theblank' to 'receive 'the en'ds of the. latter as it is -bent into "the form'="of a 9 link; mechanism for-"bending the blank into through the link previously formed, and means for operating said mechanisms in the sequence described.

'15. In a chain-making machine, the combination with welding jaws, of mechanism for forming a link from a straight blank, twisting it and then inserting it between the welding jaws, and means for operating said mechanisms in, the sequence described,

1'6. In a chain-making machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of mecha nism for turning over the ends of a suitable blank, mechanism for forming the link and closing its ends together, means for holding the newly formed link in position to receive the ends of the link next formed during the operation of forming and closing the latter, mechanism for twisting the link into position to receive the next link while held by said holding means, and means for operating said mechanisms in the sequence described.

the form "of a link and passing its" ends around the form block, said block is with drawn, and the newly formed link is delivered to the jaws to be welded. v

, 18. In a chain-making machine, the combination of a reciprocable form-block, welding jaws arranged to reciprocate for the purpose of receiving and closing upon the ends of a newly formed link, a reciprocable plunger adapted to bend the blank around the form block interposed. in its line of travel, and then to deliver it to the aws, and also adapted to rock upon its axis, means for holding the open ends of said newly formed link during such rocking movement, and means for operating said parts ina cycle of operations, whereby the blank is bent by the plunger around the form-block, said block is withdrawn, the newly formed link is twisted and then delivered to the jaws to 1 be welded.

l 19. In aachain-making machine, the combination of welding jaws, a plunger, an abutment located between the welding jaws and the plunger, and means for moving the plu'n-' ger toward the welding jaws to cause it to benda blank about the abutment and then to advance vthe blank into engagement with the welding jaws.

20. In a chain-making machine, the corn binat-ion of welding jaws, a plunger. an abutment located between the Welding jaws and the plunger, means for advancing the nlunger to cause it to bend asblank ahoutthe abutment and there to advance the bla nk into engagement with thewelding jaws, means 15 for withdrawing the abutment from the blank after the blank has been bentabout it,

and means for closing the welding jaws upon theblank after the blank hasf been inserted therein.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' CHARLES L. GRAVES. Witnesses F. W. SMITH, J r., M. T, LONGDEN. 

